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Adult community education has a critical role to play within the education sector. It fills a gap by providing access to education for people that might otherwise not engage with learning. Learning and the ability to learn are essential enablers for individuals to lead productive and rewarding lives and make a contribution to creating just, healthy and prosperous societies. However, adult community education is 'an undervalued community asset' that could provide more value to the community with the right support. In Victoria, the Department of Education and Training supports adult community education through funding Learn Local courses delivered by community organisations known as Learn Local Organisations. The intent of these courses is to engage adult learners who may have previously experienced barriers to education and support them onto a pathway into employment, further education or training.

In 2015, a consortium of Learn Local Organisations in the Wimmera received funding from the Department of Education and Training through the Adult Community and Further Education (ACFE) Board and the Capacity and Innovation Fund (CAIF) to deliver the Wimmera Community Learning Strategy (WCLS) project (the project). The project has been designed in response to the recognition of funding, compliance and effectiveness challenges facing the adult community education sector in the Wimmera. The research findings and the vision are framed around three key themes 'sustainable, responsive and effective' to reflect the interconnected and dynamic nature of the system.

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